Veterinary Technology Named Advisory Committee of the Year

CONTACT: DR. ROSEANN MARSHALL, EXT. 1359

FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 7, 2002

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College's Veterinary Technology Advisory Board was named Advisory Committee of the Year at the College's Annual Report Luncheon.

Dr. James Mulliken, of Easley, who chairs the committee, and Dr. Roseann Marshall, department head, accepted the trophy and plaque on behalf of the committee. The board also was named the top advisory committee in 1990, 1992 and 1994.

The committee is a group of veterinarians from the tri-county area, as well as other counties across the state, which are in private practice and institutional practice. They employ Tri-County graduates and provide externship opportunities to the students. The committee also includes Veterinary Technology graduates who are employed in the tri-counties as licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).

During the year, the committee met at the request of the accreditation team for the College's distance learning program. The accreditation team was conducting the accreditation site visit for the distance learning program. In the final report of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, the team stated that the committee is "active and well informed."

Members also continue to provide input on the skills and knowledge of the graduates to ensure that the College is current with veterinary medicine. Committee members who are veterinarians employ graduates and provide externship opportunities for students. They also encourage pharmaceutical companies and supply firms to donate to the College's program.

Members also intercede with the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians (SCAV), which awards an annual scholarship for second-year students.

Committee member Dr. Linda Fulton and Scott Hix, LVT, of Clemson University, continue to provide facilities and instruction of the hands-on labs for lab animal and bovine skills.

Dr. Randy Basinger, of Columbia, who will be the SCAV president next year, sponsored two of the distance learning students and now employs these graduates. He plans to make veterinary technicians his focus during his term of office.

Dr. Mullikin serves on the SCAV Veterinary Technology Committee.

Dr. Steven Shrum, of Simpsonville, provided the funding for all students to be members of the South Carolina Association of Veterinary Technicians and provided a seminar on the proper use of the Gentle Leader.

Committee member Dr. Hal Farris serves as chair of the department's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which ensure compliance with the USDA and Animal Welfare Act.

Tri-County is the first technical college in the state to offer an associate degree program in Veterinary Technology.

Tri-County's program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.
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